Blog
About
Home
Resources
Menu

This Military Town is Reinventing Itself… and We’re Going to Check It Out!

[xyz-ips snippet=”Seth-Godin-Message”]

Share

If you’ve read Jo, My Gosh! for any length of time, you know that my husband and I love to travel. We are road trippers to the max (is that even a thing?!); we love adventure (as long as it doesn’t involve heights for me) and we love local (especially if it includes delicious food).

This military town is reinventing itself... we're going to check it out!
And we’ll be hitting the road again– to Jacksonville, NC and Camp Lejeune. Now, I know what you’re thinking. Because honestly, I thought the same thing. Let’s be honest: Jacksonville, NC probably isn’t on your list of places to go. At least not if you’re not deploying. But all of that is changing. With a decreased ops tempo, Jacksonville is beginning to find it’s touristy soul.

From sunset cruises on the river to paddleboard classes and rentals to locally-owned coffee shops, wine bars, and restaurants, it’s a town that honors it’s military connections, but is also stretching its legs. I’ll be sharing our trip in the next few weeks, but until then, here’s a sneak peak at what we’re hoping to see and do (as long as the weather holds out for us)!

  • The Freedom Fountain and Camp Lejeune Memeorial Gardens that honors the veterans of Vietnam, Beirut, World War II, and those who died during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
  • Kayaking because John is addicted to it
  • Jeff’s Burgers and Shakes— a local restaurant featured by Southern Living– for (what else?) a burger and a shake
  • Local coffee shops because we’ll probably need a little caffeine pick-me-up and afternoon or mid-morning fuel
  • A sunset cruise with Bayonet Enterprises to round out our stay
  • Checking out some veteran and/or milspouse owned small businesses
  • And Lillianna’s Colombian Restaurant and Bakery because how often do you get a chance to try authentic Colombian cuisine?

I’m also looking forward to a little down time with my sweetie in a chill atmosphere before our hectic spring really takes shape. And I’m not going to lie– I’m excited to see how Jacksonville has changed as they begin to welcome tourists from all over the globe.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Visit NC. The opinions and text are all mine.






3 Responses

  1. Go to Duck’s Grille & Bar while you’re in Jacksonville. Locally owned and nothing like it in the area. It’s a real gem, although it doesn’t look it from the outside. They also have a bakery attached!

  2. I spent 13 years there and a must do is to go check out the marina cafe. Locally owned and operated with live music on the weekends and indoor and outdoor seating. Try the crab dip, it won’t dissapoint!!!!

  3. I just moved here from Dallas, TX and what a delightful change it is! I’d love to hear more about recommendations for the area.

Related Articles

Not sure what to read next? Here are some of the top related articles!

   
Blog
About
Home
Resources
Menu